Symposium explores indigenous identity in an age of reconciliation

Nearly 150 years after the founding of Canada, and months after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's report, Performing Turtle Island: A Gathering of Indigenous Theatre and Performance looks to reconcile and grapple with the idea of aboriginal identity in Canada.

Nearly 150 years after the founding of Canada, and months after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report, Performing Turtle Island: A Gathering of Indigenous Theatre and Performance looks to reconcile and grapple with the idea of aboriginal identity in Canada.

The event brings artists and scholars from all over the world to Treaty 4 territory at the University of Regina and First Nations University of Canada for a national symposium on the nature of aboriginal identity, and what that concept means today.

The theme is described as such on the event’s website: “In the face of growing international mobility and a radically changing Canadian demographic, it is important to take another look at how identity is constructed on Turtle Island.” Turtle Island is what some First Nation peoples traditionally call North America. “Right now, we’re in an era of reconciliation in Canada,” said Jesse Archibald-Barber, with FNU. “So this is something that is at the front of the mind for most indigenous peoples, especially in Canada. That’s why our conference theme is so connected to the issue of identity, but as well as community.”

Speakers, scholars, dancers, rappers, visual and performance artists, both aboriginal and non-aboriginal, will be performing and speaking Thursday to Saturday across the campus. Kathleen Irwin, with the U of R theatre department, says looking at indigenous identity, and reconciling the past, requires “looking at the sense of community and good health (as) two things that are completely intertwined.”

The conference is happening in conjunction with 18 others across the world through Performance Studies International’s Globally Dispersed Conference 2015. The conference will be hosted online, inviting viewers to view global perspectives.

“It’s interesting, as we’re in an election here, a major issue has been the way the world’s perception of Canada has changed over the past decade or so – one that hasn’t necessarily been positive,” said Archibald- Barber, adding that he hopes the conference addresses this.

Brett Graham, a sculptor and installation artist from New Zealand, will be in Canada for his second time. When previously in Canada, he read James Daschuk’s Clearing the Plains. Graham has since made a large-scale installation in response to the book. Daschuk and Graham will be discussing their works on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. “This conference, in its sense of community building, is about bridging cultures both indigenous and Canadian, and international peoples. It’s addressing the histories that we all share … this is more important than ever,” said Archibald-Barber.

All events are free and open to the public, so no registration is required. Pre-conference events will be held at Fifth Parallel Gallery on Wednesday at 4 p.m. asalloum@leaderpost.com @alecjsalloum

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